Markets Update: Cryptocurrencies Lose Steam During the Weekend

Cryptocurrencies have been dropping in value this Saturday, May 12 as most digital assets are down between 3-15 percent. The price of Bitcoin Cash (BCH) is hovering around $1,446 at press time while gaining 3.4 percent today — And Bitcoin Core (BTC) values are averaging roughly $8,473 per BTC and its markets are down 1.4 percent this weekend.

Digital Assets Take a Dip During This Weekend’s Trading Sessions

Traders and cryptocurrency enthusiasts are uncertain of the short-term path ahead for digital assets, as most cryptocurrencies have lost a bunch of value once again. Many believe digital assets will see a rise at some point next week, as cryptocurrency markets have consistently risen every year in mid-May year after year. News has been fairly positive as Wall Street seems to be embracing cryptocurrencies even more so these days as new indexes and funds have launched. However, crypto-proponents are still concerned about regulations as exchanges are still being raided in South Korea and other governments enforce new measures. Moreover, the infamous Mt Gox trustee has moved bitcoins once again, and many believe those coins are being liquidated for fiat.

Top ten cryptocurrencies on Saturday, May 12, 2018, according to Satoshi Pulse.

BCH Market Action

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) values have dipped considerably since our last markets update as BCH prices over the past seven days have lost 13.6 percent. Even though prices are down volumes have risen and the past 24-hours worth of trade volume is around $1.49Bn today. Right now the top five exchanges swapping the most BCH today are Okex, Upbit, Bitfinex, Bithumb, and Huobi. South Korean markets (KRW/BTC) have spiked considerably when it comes to BCH trades this weekend. BTC pairs with BCH have dropped but is still the most dominant pair as BTC encompasses 28.3 percent of BCH trades. This is followed by tether (USDT 26.4%), KRW (21%), USD (20.1%), and the euro (1.9%).

BCH/USD Technical Indicators

Looking at charts show some consolidation taking place and new positions being staked. The two Simple Moving Averages (SMA) show bulls could still take the game back to the upside, as the 100 SMA is still largely above the 200 SMA. MACd indicates some uncertainty at -42.17 which could show some improvement may take place in the near future. Relative Strength Index oscillator indicates the same sentiment, as it meanders around 42 at press time. Order books show bulls need to break resistance at $1,490 to move further ahead and from this vantage point, it still looks attainable. On the back side if bears try and short the market books indicate there are solid foundations between $1,360 and $1,250.

BCH/USD Bitfinex May 12, 2018

BTC Market Action

Bitcoin Core (BTC) markets are down 14 percent over the past seven days and one BTC is priced at $8,473 per unit. BTC volumes are decent today with over $7Bn worth traded over the past 24-hours. The top five exchanges trading the most BTC today includes Binance, Bitfinex, Okex, Huobi, and Bitflyer. The Japanese yen is the dominant currency traded with BTC as the yen is capturing 52.9 percent of today’s trades. This is followed by the USD (21%), tether (USDT 16.7%), KRW (3.8%), and the euro (2.6%). The most popular swap today on May 12 on the peer-to-peer platform Shapeshift is BTC for BCH.

BTC/USD Technical Indicators

Looking at the 4-hour BTC/USD chart shows the two SMA trend lines are currently different than BCH markets. The short-term 100 SMA is below the long-term 200 SMA which indicates the path to resistance may be towards the downside. At press time bulls have attempted to cross above the $8,550-8,650 range, with little luck. MACd shows this action just took place but more improvements can happen within the coming hours. RSI levels are around 45.5 which indicates some consolidation and some upwards movements are still in the cards. BTC bulls have to eat through massive sell walls to get above $9K again and then more mountains above $9,600. On the backside there are stiff foundations around $8,150, and if that area breaks we will see another pitstop at $7,800.

BTC/USD Coinbase May 12, 2018

The Verdict: Market Optimism Remains

As stated above, there are a lot of cryptocurrency enthusiasts and traders betting on a rise in digital asset markets in the near future. But this past dip seems to show a bit of consolidation before any type of break out takes place, as most currencies touched a three-week low this week. Even so, most people still seem optimistic for the coming weeks ahead.

Where do you see the price of BCH and other cryptocurrencies headed from here? Let us know in the comments below.

Disclaimer: Price articles and markets updates are intended for informational purposes only and should not to be considered as trading advice. Neither Bitcoin.com nor the author is responsible for any losses or gains, as the ultimate decision to conduct a trade is made by the reader. Always remember that only those in possession of the private keys are in control of the “money.”

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Jamie Redman

Jamie Redman is a financial tech journalist living in Florida. Redman has been an active member of the cryptocurrency community since 2011. He has a passion for Bitcoin, open source code, and decentralized applications. Redman has written thousands of articles for news.Bitcoin.com about the disruptive protocols emerging today.

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